Mom says troubled world inspired her to kill

WATSONVILLE, Calif. 
Court transcripts show an Aptos mother charged with smothering her daughter thought sending the 3-year-old to heaven would save her from a troubled world.

Veva Virgil's statements to investigators were contained in the 37-year-old woman's preliminary hearing transcripts released Thursday. Virgil has pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of Isabella Grace Martinez.

The woman allegedly smothered her daughter with a pillow in a Watsonville motel room in November. Watsonville police Officer Angel Calderon says she repeatedly told investigators she killed the girl.

Calderon says she "did not want Isabella suffering or going through what the world was going through."